Mackenzie Creek Trading Co. opens

Terry and Marilyn Mumey had been looking for an opportunity to start a business in Sisters.

High school sweethearts from Sweet Home, both are native Oregonians. Their career had led them around the western United States for the last 30 years, and they were ready to return home with Mackenzie their dog, who became the namesake of the new shop.

The Mumeys purchased a home in Sisters about a year ago and were waiting for an opportunity to lease or purchase a suitable building in Sisters. One day, the real estate agent who had sold them their home in Sisters called the couple and told them that he was purchasing the Doc Holliday's building in Sisters. He asked if they would be willing to sign a lease, and it seemed to the Mumey's that their dreams were coming together.

Terry Mumey said, "Our original hope was to do the shop in the spring, but the opportunity was there now. So we decided to go ahead with our plans. We signed a lease and had merchandise in the building almost immediately."

The shop is about three-quarters full with winter stock, including winter clothing, hiking gear and gift items. Mumey said the only real thing that is missing are the snowshoes.

It is a principal goal for the shop to have snowshoe rentals, and Mumey hopes to build on that as an integral part of the hiking business to make hiking a year-round activity and interest. He reported that snowshoes should arrive at the latest by the end of November.

The Mumeys are no strangers to boutique shops. For the last 25 years, Terry has been designing and opening ski resort shops. About 15 years ago, he expanded into golf resort shops to supplement his ski resort business. While keeping their hands on opening both golf and ski boutiques, the Mumeys decided to open a small shop of their own in Ennis, Montana in 1999. The business proved both an enjoyable and profitable venture for the couple until they sold it in 2004.

Mumey said of his shop in Ennis, "The shop was very much like this, outdoor clothing and gifts for men and women."

The shop became noteworthy and Mumey reports, "It was chosen by Montana State University School of Business as the 'Small Family Business of the Year' in the State of Montana."

When asked about their choice of Sisters for their home, Mumey said, "We wanted something a little mountainy, small town feel, similar to the town we had in Montana. Ennis and Sisters are very much alike; they have a very comparable feel and look."

Mumey added, "We love the people here and the ambiance of the area. We really want to be a part of the community and give to the community, as well. Our goal with this business is not just to make a buck but to try to give to the community and support local needs."

Mumey said that both he and his wife are looking forward to exploring the area.

"We are both avid hikers, and I am also an avid fly fisherman. We love the lifestyle here, and we still have family in the valley so this location is a plus from that standpoint as well. We are hoping to be here for the long term."

The focus in the next months, according to Mumey, "will be the buying shows so that we will have a full offering for spring and summer. We are pretty much stocked up. Our real emphasis in this store is Columbia sportswear. There are family members from Columbia that live here in town, and they were excited to have us here as no one was really representing the line. It is a good price line and quality line."

Mumey declares that they are also "going to have gifts for men and women, jewelry, accessories, that kind of thing. There are a lot of fine gift stores here, and our goal was to create a store that was not the same as all the stores that are here. We want to complement the stores that are here not compete with them."